THE HIT LIST: May 18, 2020
As you’re reading this, I had to get this installment of The Hit List on the day of! Definitely didn’t have much time this weekend, or energy for that matter to be honest.
shortfilms
THE HIT LIST: January 27, 2020
Putting together this week’s installment of The Hit List wasn’t too troubling, though the workload is now piling up, so I’ll be working on pacing myself a little more apart from last month’s announcement.
THE HIT LIST: January 13, 2020
There are so many things happening in the world as we speak that it’s been difficult not to get sidetracked what with all that I have to do from this point forward. At any rate, the last three weeks have been quite the emotional rollercoaster in my personal life and with enough time, at least tentatively, to reflect and think on what I can do differently.
THE HIT LIST: July 23, 2019
I have a good amount of work to do for the next few weeks. To say the least it all started with a terrible start to my weekend but, it’s the 22nd, which means it’s time for another installment of The Hit List. So…let’s crack this open, shall we?
THE HIT LIST: June 10, 2019
The Hit List has taken a pretty interesting turn of late now that I actually get to host some video files on behalf of creators. It’s a blessing and I’m real thankful to those of you investing in my own YouTube channel to share your craft.
THE HIT LIST: April 15, 2019
It’s been a productive two weeks with some time to focus a little more on myself and overall news production, but indeed it’s high time to bring some talent into the limelight and that’s what The Hit List is here for once more!
Small Update About THE HIT LIST
Alright, YouTube is being a pain in the neck lately; In terms of details, my targeted searches are only giving me generic search results when I do my searches for Hit List content.
THE HIT LIST: December 3, 2018
Well how about that. Holiday break is almost here! I’m actually looking forward to some extra time to myself seeing as I’ve missed out on so much in the course of the year – I even had to put some anime on the backburner too…and kinda sucks. ?
THE HIT LIST: October 15, 2018
Well, the bad news is I didn’t post an Instagram announcement for this week’s installment of The Hit List – partly because a fever knocked me on my ass on Sunday…
THE HIT LIST: September 10, 2018
So…how about that second season of Iron Fist?
ALL THE RAGE: Actress Kerry Lacy Talks VIOLA, Filmmaking And Fighting Back
Lacy applied this concept accordingly with the film’s coordinator, industry stunt performer, martial artist and fight trainer Paul Varacchi who actually alerted me to Viola last year at a birthday party. Moreover, Lacy has been studying martial arts since the age of six and so the prospects of seeing both student and teacher collaborate on an action project lends heavily on just how bigger Lacy’s filmic brainchild could be in terms of action for the story scope. With any luck though, production on Viola 2 had much more grace in terms of set time what with Lacy’s experience on the first being more expeditious than preferred, save for the intensity and excitement with cameras rolling.
DIRECTING A DANCE OF VENGEANCE: Director Sam Puefua Talks Revenge Action Thriller Shortfilm, MAMBA
The latter end of May through early June saw the emergence of a promo campaign for a project now shaping up be quite the festival favorite. The project in question hails actress Sonalii Castillo in her latest electrifying role in Mamba, a new revenge shortfilm thriller from actor and filmmaker Sam Puefua.
“Sonalii brings a level of authenticity to her character,” says Puefua who also co-stars as Sam, a former soldier who applies his skillset aptly as Kali’s right-hand man. “She’s a hard worker and very passionate about her role, and having created this character, there’s no one better than her to bring this character to life!”
Heralded as a cross between John Wick and Colombiana, Mamba is currently garnering acceptances and praise from multiple territories in North America and Europe with Castillo having recently won the Gold Award for Best Actress at the Independent Shorts Awards. The project also earned Honorable Mention as well as Best Thriller Short in June at the same festival, signaling a rather favorable start for Puefua in his film journey with Castillo since their pairing on 2014 short, Dahlias.
With Puefua, he got his start in acting at a very young age with an interest in musicals and stage plays, journeying with his mother and other siblings for shows like Les Miserable, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. His teenage years saw an evolution of that interest take shape by high school – albeit partly from necessity.
“Upon my senior year after football season, I needed another elective for second semester and drama was the only one left.” he says. “Ever since that class, the acting bug bit me and literally right after high school, I pursued my career in acting.”
D.O.P. Luke Dejoras, Brendon Huor and Sam Puefua on the set of MAMBA (2018)
Puefua’s career has flourished accordingly for well over a decade, from small ones to sizable supporting ones. My first dramatic impression of him was actually in a fantasy action concept piece for an independent film company in addition to seeing him in Prince Bagdasarian’s 2013 heist pic, Abstraction.
Seeing Puefua’s own ability to do perform stunts and action was what appealed to me in the course of my own coverage though, and so seeing him take on Mamba is pretty huge in my view. It leads me to believe a project like Mamba is in especially good hands – something I gather Castillo herself took note of way earlier as Puefua sought to take the helm for a change of pace.
“I always wanted to see what it was like to direct someone.” says Puefua about working on Dahlias. “That first project gave me some good experience and inspired me to jump in the directors chair again one day. Now, four years later, I’m on my solo directorial debut! I learned a lot from this film and I had a GREAT team to join me on it.”
Castillo, whose credits partly include NCIS: Los Angeles, Heroes and The Saint, shepherded the idea to Puefua in 2015. Her training for the role of Kali, a presumed-dead assassin seeking vengeance against the corporation that employed her, and the man who runs it (her brother), was another story to be told – one of the usual pain, sweat and rigorous training employed aptly by none other than Brendon Huor whose credentials in stunts and entertainment are demonstrably exceptional.
“The man is the real deal when it comes to action.” says Puefua. “I’ve known my bro for a long time now and we always talked about working on something together, and Mamba was that something.”
Brendon Huor and Sonalii Castillo on the set of MAMBA (2018)
The idea implemented was a straight-up, tactical approach with guns and knives – relatively akin to what audiences have enjoyed seeing thusfar in the John Wick movies and characteristic of rough and unflashy techniques. By Puefua’s own account, Huor knew exactly what to do without question.
“A few weeks after we met, Brendon started training Sonalii on how to handle a knife and gun properly and safely, conditioning her to look like she had years of training within a short period time and having her drill those motions over and over again.” says Puefua. “This is before she even started to learn the choreo and when the time came man was she sore! [laughs].”
He continued: “Just like the gun and knife training, he made her drill that choreography over and over and over until it was second nature. On set, he stayed hands-on with the action and made sure I had the takes. He didn’t merely just produce what I asked for with the action either. He made plenty sure I had the best version.”
Puefua also provided an ordered list of whos-who in the team members who contributed to the stunt work on hand and tasked with making Castillo look good on camera, crediting Joseph Oreste, Kosey Baskin, Subin Choi, Mark Poletti, Nathan People, Nick Krawiec, Kody Pham, Allen Quindiagan, Anthony Hoang, Castillo’s stunt double Kiera O’Connor, Sinilau Tauteoli, Ping Moli, Enele Tauteoli and Amy Sturdivant; A good handful of these stunt performers have already shared space in our weekly Hit List which is delightfully telling in part what fans who follow our posts can expect with a project like Mamba.
MAMBA (2018) crew and stunt performers with Superman Sam second from right.
“The action wouldn’t have been what it is without all my stunt team!” says Puefua who also shared his gratitude for Sound Guy, Vincent Dang who shared in on the stunt action as one of the villains in addition to director of photography, Luke Dejoras, with whom Puefua worked closely to get the best shots. “My stunt brothers and sisters not only brought their A-game to our lil’ film, but were constant professionals on and off-screen! I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Mamba had its share of hurdles like any other production, including location and screenplay issues, although they weren’t anything he couldn’t handle. It hasn’t daunted him from directing either given much as he enjoys it, but of course he has his preferences, suggesting acting was tanatmount to his spanning skillset, adding “…Acting is my first love and I have to continue to build and master that craft before I master another.”
Puefua’s next stop for Mamba, apart from festivals, is the hopeful funding of a feature film that may very well land Castillo a starring role apart from producing. On the acting front, Puefua also has another title scantly making the social media rounds with a few posters and a caption that reads “Who is Mr. Happy?”. I don’t know if that’s the title or a tagline for the project but I was stanchly excited for this project whose director, D. Miles, has largely been intangible for the past few years. Puefua couldn’t say much either but gave a little something to keep in mind.
“It’s a dark Superhero movie.” he says. “Think Batman meets The Punisher. ‘Protect the Innocent, Punish the Rest’ is what Mr. Happy lives by.”
Follow #MambaTheMovie and Sam’s progress through the official website.
Review: OPTION ZERO Spotlights The Moral Quandry Of Heroism With Pulsating Action And Drama
We last learned that director R.L. Scott has been in the making for his most recent efforts on superhero thriller, Lazarus, which is one of at least two titles made known to us. He hasn’t been on social media since last summer and we haven’t heard much thereafter so it’s safe to say he might have a lot on his plate for his independent endeavors.
Going forward however, we can at least share some progress being made on at least one other project we reported on back in 2014 which was initially designated as the pilot of a hopeful series. Per the nature of most non-mainstream projects left shelved or incomplete or falling by the wayside, Option Zero was in danger of almost never seeing the light of day until co-star and creator, executive producer Eliver Ling took the post-production reigns in late 2017.
Hence, while the wait continues for a more public screening, Option Zero currently exists in shortfilm form and for the most part as the summer festival circuit approaches, we can now breathe a sigh of relief for its completion. A new trailer and promotional run may be forthcoming although what remains to be seen apart from a release is if whether or not a larger concept will manifest.
For this, it’s reasonable to believe this as possible. Ling’s script touches on an idea rooted in value and worthy of expansion in the ways viewers have seen on prolific shows like Strike Back and Banshee. The added fanfare of watching cast members Christian Howard and Amy Johnston in action is a certain plus that amplifies the dramatic caliber founded in its cast led by Chris Conrad who plays Trevor, the commanding officer of the titular clandestined special ops unit, and Adolfo Quiniones who serves as its field director, Lionel.
OPTION ZERO: Exclusive Stills
Co-star Adamo Palladino in the role of the ruthless, cold and authoritative Cyrus, takes point in setting the stage for the narrative’s exposition as we are introduced to our protagonists in the wake of the arrival of Victor Federov (Jacob Witkin), an elusive Russian mafia boss whose trades in multiple counts of crime and terror have all but called for a complete, indiscriminate purge of his organization. Other members of the unit it next to Cyrus and Trevor are Ling who plays Connor and Johnston as the understanding and determined Kara, as well as Howard as the ambivalent Nate whose accord with their mission is not without concern for the very possible details and nuances that aren’t being made known given the nature of governmental secrecy.
Option Zero deals in a healthy staging of spectacular action and drama that hinges even more on internal conflict and upheaval when the mission is ago our five-member team ensues the bodycount. Innocent lives and enemies hidden in plain sight are the mines readying the explosive twists that emerge later pitting members against each other nearing close calls of insubordination as if certain death weren’t enough.
Alfred Hsing, a versatile stuntman primed with an international career next to the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Steven Spielberg, serves as action director, making more than sufficient use of our cast, including Ling, Howard and Johnston. Stylish gun battles kick-off the roaring finale with fight action that intensifies between the various revelations and clashes that incur from the first floor of the raid and upward with Scott also dealing in the cinematography.
Quiñones, long since the days of wrecking the dance floor as a prolific headlining dancer and actor for film and television in the 1980s, turns in a solid performance that bookends the dramatic caliber brought by a fine cast and a script that exhibits a multi-dimensional view of what heroism is in the name of government service. In its thirty-two minute duration, while Option Zero may not be what the average old guard producer seeks, makes an outstanding case for why that should change.
Scott has been directing movies for up to a decade as of this article and my intial introduction to his work was the most recent release of crime thriller, Call Me King starring Amin Joseph and Shaun Mixon. It stands as an exemplary view of what is possible with a good director behind the lens joined by a loyal and well-versed team of creatives and performers that know and speak the language of action and can translate it through quality storytelling.
That level of consistency and work ethic otherwise continues with Option Zero setting up a more than feasible argument for the kind of profusion that independent action cinema deserves. Production banner Rihsing Studios further played an integral role in applying the necessary finishing touches to the project and going forward, stands plenty to gain from Option Zero in its handing to the festival and markets later this year with all the hopes of either seeing this concept grow its potential, or that of its respective talents on either side of the lens.
THE HIT LIST: August 28, 2017
I’m still in recovery mode and will likely be so for the next several days. I forgot that’s what happens when you have as much fun as I did for two nights in a row.
THE HIT LIST: June 5, 2017
The past several days may have seen a slump of news. I admit, I kind of enjoyed it as I needed a bit of a breather. Best of all is I finally had a little time over the weekend to start watching Sense8 to see what the fuss is about and…
…I’ll be sure to give my feedback in a future post if I catch the writing bug by then. For now though, it’s time for this site to do what it does most prominently on Monday nights and with this week’s installment of the Hit List. Staff boss and Canadian alpha Catwoman Michelle C. Smith fires things up with her latest reel followed by a raft of stunt and training reels from some of today’s rising talents: Eugenia Guryleva, Caleb Spillyards, Anthony Javier, Jordan Davis, Tyson Arner, Meghan Whitfield (that makes two weeks in a row!), Dave Cutler, fellow FCSyndicate favorites Yadi Nieves and Irvin Nguyen, Into The Badlands familiars Nathan Barris and Morgan Benoit, and the latest reel by UK-based Movieworks Stunt & Fight Crew.
Currently this week is quiet on promotional material, so tentatively I’ll be changing it up a little bit with some sweet parkour action in an ultimate test of endurance. This one comes courtesy of Calen Chan who recently took to the Skyladder course at Heaven’s Gate alongside Tianman Mountain in China, racked with 999 steps jam-packed with momentum and adrenaline at the business end of a GoPro. In his mouth! He’s the only person thusfar to achieve this effort and he’s asking for fans and viewers for a share and we here are more than happy to oblige him. Cheers Calen!
Rounding out this week is a sick rack of test fight action beginning with David Lavallee Jr. opposite Matt Healy and Jose Pacheco, Mannie B.‘s latest get together with performers Lovel Johnson Jr. and Charlit Daechalkhom, Meghan Koch‘s own throwdown with Hamamura Yoko and guest performer Jordan Thoma, some cool new POV test fight action by Filip Ciprian Florian, Luca Malacrino with an experimental action gem inspired by one of 2017’s biggest hit movies (you’ll know when Le Castle Vania comes on) and Yavuz Topuz and Kyle Potter getting work done with Bryan Sloyer behind the lens.
John Cihangir keeps the pace going with something quite storyesque and hilarious per his recent college graduation in Graduation Hustle, followed by a re-upload from Dardrex Productions featuring swordwielders Darren Holmquist, Martin Chan and John Rickard, Sean Kohnke’s latest one-man army gangster tale, I’m Out Johnny (CLICK HERE to go behind the scenes and stay tuned for the sequel), Nicholas Ortiz’s own inspired take on Nintendo Switch game, Mr. Shifty from Deviant Children Productions, and Joseph Roark’s inspired thematic action drama short, Cain with John Tervanis.
That’s about it for this week. Be sure to check out last week’s entries and subscribe to the channels to show your support. Also, SHARE the Hit List with friends, and if you or someone you know has an equally amazing and impressive project that suits our niche and may be worthy of a spot in our weekly Hit List, hit us up at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com!
And Now, A Word From Master Ken…
On second thought, I’ll skip the formalities Just know that if you’re taking TaeKwonDo, somewhere in your hemisphere, Master Ken is watching and judging you…and that things could be… well…
THE HIT LIST: March 6, 2017
Enjoy the goods below!
THE HIT LIST: November 7, 2016
Well, I can’t say much about my weekend. Saturday was a 19 hour day and so Doctor Strange had to be put on hold, and my energy level on Monday was about the same as your average everyday housecat. That said, I did get to enjoy a cool Sunday night out with someone who’s been doing stunts for some time now and you can read more about that by clicking here!
On that note, The Hit List has arrived for this week and new stunt and action demo reels are here for your viewing pleasure with the first – a reel from an actress whose work I’ve been dying to share in a Hit List entry ever since I became friends with her on social media in 2014. Hailing all the way from London and fresh off of a stellar box office run thusfar in the U.K. and U.S. in Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange is actress and martial artist Katrina Durden with a fantastic new reel now viral, also featuring footage from Street Fighter: Resurrection. Rounding out the playlist is a raft of reels from Brazil’s own Renan Medeiros, Alexa Marcigliano, Steve Legate, Cassie Lee Minick, Donald Tucker, Jordan Sessions, Canada-based Malik Bouabid, and a ferocious new fight choreography reel by Bryan Sloyer who rightly deserves a such a credit on a feature film, and I’m hoping that happens between now and 2017.
Enjoy!
There’s only one trailer this week that I’ve come across for the promotional side of things and it’s from actor and filmmaker Phillip Ray Tommy out of Birmingham in the UK with a modern-day take on the Biblical tale of Cain & Abel. Tommy is joined by actor and martial artist Grant Stevens who dazzled the comic book fanbase as Nightcrawler in Cable: Chronicles Of Hope from directors George and Harry Kirby, and here and now with a project that further aims at showcasing Tommy’s ability to conjure dynamic storytelling, quality and depth in shortform. Of course, the trailer for it also teases some of the slickest action sequences you’ll ever enjoy in martial arts cinema and bullet ballet with Stevens in his element, and I’m sure not many will complain here. It works and I wouldn’t mind this as a feature film myself if the right investors stepped up.
Check it out!
At long last, we’ve arrives at this week’s roster of shortfilm fights and cinematic content that I (…in all caps) KNOW you are going to love.
We begin with the latest from Art School Dropouts where actor and martial artist Joey Min has arrived to demonstrate how to handle the recent spate of random clown incidents throughout the world…and in a drunken stupor no less! Also starring are Stephanie Pham, and your resident clown patrol played by Gee Jay, Andrew Kim and Cheech Vitale. From there, it’s filmmaker Naser Kazmi and his latest contribution to some satirical roleplay in lieu of this week’s presidential election with stunt players Thomas Lorber and Magalie Rouillart in a video aptly titled Hillary Punches Trump In The Face! Sure, it’s pretty far-fetched a spectacle but you can’t deny that it’s fitting of the tone of the election, and let’s just face it…anyone who can perform fight choreo with a B-twist deserves to have it filmed and shared.
Following that is a video that happens to be one of my favorite things this month and it comes from Stephen Vitale, and featuring none other than actress and comedian Anna Akana in a role that just intrigues you to your core in the new Star Wars Fan Film, Hoshino. The opening title is just fabulous, as is the lensing with a story that tells of our young Padawan heroine and the pennance she pays for nearly succumbing to the darkside, and it’s a story that otherwise lends nods to empowerment and endurance with an important life lesson I think almost anyone might agree to. Proceeding from an unsuccessful Indiegogo campaign, it’s rather fortunate that this shortifilm came to pass, and given the result, I think it’s fair to see what could have been done if the right amount of funds were there. Don’t watch this just to spy some stylish and cool lightsaber action. Instead, watch AND enjoy it for its sheer depth and brilliance.
Up after that is a 2014 shortfilm that didn’t come my way until this week thanks to a mention during a chat with fight choreographer and filmmaker Fred Nguyen. He, actor and Temple shortfilm co-star Yue Qi and actress Michelle Jiang star in The Burglar, which tells of what happens when a perpetrator breaks into a home only to find himself pinned down in the dark by its uniquely skilled couple. Indeed, these are not your normal home invasion victims and it’s our title character who gets more than what he bargained for, and in the best, most entertaining way for a kung fu comedy short brimming with terrific physical comedy, wit and action.
Last and far (and I mean FAR) from least, is a shortfilm that has undergone an interesting evolution as a preamble to a much larger project out in Australia. For this, I invite you to read my March 13 interview with none other than Sam Gosper, to learn a little more about the prior history leading up to the current release of his newest shortfilm, Hunt For Hiroshi. The project is just the start for a more grand ensemble of feature film work for Gosper and the good folks over at Resilient Pictures, featuring the stunt stylings of Team 9Lives with a trio actors headlining the compelling action and drama about a ninja who comes out of hiding to settle an old score. Abe Taki stars in the title role opposite David Vuong and Laurent Boiteux who cross barrage of blades, bullets, fisticuffs and big kicks in this festive martial arts showdown between two antiheroes locked into battle with nothing but vengeance, redemption and bloodlust running through their veins.
Hunt For Hiroshi is a project that I am purely glad to have been covering, and that as hard as Gosper is working, more is hopefully in store for this project and I sincerely hope more stems from it. The cast is superb and the action and quality are fantastic, the drama – albeit edited for a tighter and more convenient narrative – is solid as ever. Lo-fi as it may be, this shortfilm deserves to spawn its own feature film franchise and if you love the kind of martial arts action you see in films like Isaac Florentine’s Ninja films and Netflix series Daredevil, or just have a distinct appreciation for the ninja genre dating back to the bustling 1980’s, at just twenty-four minutes in, I think you might even agree.
Watch all the shorts from start to finish, and by all means, enjoy!
If you still have time to spare, last week’s Hit List is all the more entertaining and full of goods to enjoy, so peep it and follow the channels on your own accord. And, as always, if you or someone you know is an aspiring stuntman with a fantastic demo reel, or a filmmaker with a love for action movies and with a trailer or a full-on shortfilm filled to the lid with slick and pulse-pounding action and fight choreography and you think it deserves a place in our weekly Hit List, hit us up at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com!
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